Bunion and corn protector



Jan. 26, 1937 w J, H|K5 2,069,034

BUNION AND CORN PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 9, 1934 /9 o W unmlm-f/ u|||||llm 7//////////////.

' MLU/w, JH/0K6' Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to bunion and corn protectors.

` Numerous devices have been developed for wear on the human foot either to aord protection to bunions or corns, or totend to straighten the great toe of the foot which has been thrown inwardly by the growth of a. bunion. Some devices have been developed for accomplishing both results, and while these devices are more or less helpful, they ordinarily are rather cumbersome for wear and relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an extremely simple form of bunion protector which may be readily placed in position and which will remain in such position inu definitely.

A further object is to provide a bunion or corn protector which is held in position through the provision of an opening to receive one of the toes of the foot.

A further object is to provide a simple form of bunion protector having means for surrounding and protecting the bunion and separate means in the same device adapted to be arranged inwardly of the great toe to tend to urge it outwardly toward its proper position.

A further object is to provide a combined device of the character referred to which is normally relatively flat and which is iiexible to permit the two ends to perform the two functions referred to.

A further object is to provide such a device which is formed iiat to facilitate economy in 35 manufacture and to permit the devices to be packed flat in packages.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing I have shown two embodiments of the invention. In this showing` Figure 1 is a perspective view of a human foot showing the device applied,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a face view of one of the protectors,

Figure 4 is a. longitudinal sectional view on line 4-4- of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View on line 5-5 of Figure 3, and,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure 4 showing a modified form of the device.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the numeral I0 designates the protector as a whole which is formed with a covering II of any suitable soft material such as chamois skin. Intermediate its (Cl. 12S-153) ends the device is widened to some extent as at I2 and such portion of the device is provided with a relatively large opening I3. At one end the device is provided with an opening I4 of suitable size to surround the corn or bunion in connection with which the device is to be used.v The opposite end of the device is formed as a relatively straight section I5, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 4 it will be noted that the space between the coverings surrounding the opening I4 is filled with a suitable soft padding material I 6, preferably in the form of lambs wool for the reason that such material will not readily pack and lose its soft resiliency. As also illustrated in Figure 4 the straight end portion I5 is filled with a pad I1 preferably of the same material as the padding I6 and of any desired thickness depending upon the extent to which it is desired to urge the great toe outwardly as will become apparent.' No padding is ordinarily required around the opening I3, and as shown in Figure 5, the space between the side coverings is preferably empty as indicated by the numeral I8.

A slightly modified form of the device is illustrated in Figure 6 wherein the protector is indicated as a whole bythe numeral I9. This form of the device preferably is formed of a single layer of soft Wool felt which may be shaped in plan in the same manner as the deviceillustrated in Figure 3. The protector I9, of course, need not be provided with any form of covering since it is adapted to retain its normal shape. Such protector is provided with a straight end 20, corresponding to the straight end I5, and center and end openings 2I and 22, corresponding to the openings I3 and I4 previously described. While the modified form of the device is preferably made of soft wool felt, as stated, it will be apparent that it may be made of any other suitable material such as cotton felt, sponge rubber, etc.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive will be apparent from the drawing and the foregoing description. The opening I3 is slipped over the great toe, when the device is being used as a bunion protector, and the arrangement of the device when in position is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. The straight portion I5 is arranged inwardly of the great toe and tends to urge the latter outwardly toward its proper position with respect to the foot. The opening I4 is adapted to surround a bunion rearwardly of the great toe with the padding I6 serving to eliminate any pressure of the shoe against the bunion. The arrangement of the great toe within the opening I3 obviously holds the device in normal position on the foot. While the device has been illustrated as a bunion protector, it will be apparent that in a smaller size it is equally applicable i'or use in connection with the small toe to protect corns between the toes and on the outer edge of the foot rearwardly oi the small toe.

The operation of the form of the device illustrated in Figure 6 is identical with that previously described and need not be referred to in detail. A single piece of soft felted wool is employed in the making of the device and aiords adequate protection for relatively small bunions. For larger bunions it is desired that the form of the device illustrated in Figures, 3, 4, and be employed in order that a greater quantity ci' soi't iiuily padding may be employed within a nonirritating covering such as chamois skin, as described.

It will be noted that the device is normally fiat and requires no shaping in the manufacture thereof except for the profile shape of the device. In other words. no expensive steps are necessary in the manufacture of the device to shape it transversely in accordance with the position which it assumes when on the foot. The iiat formation of the device thus renders it economical to manufacture and permits several of the devices to be packed flat in a single small box.

The use of the device affords protection to the bunion against irritation and tends to urge the great toe toward its normal position. 'I'he formation of the device also renders it particularly comfortable to wear.

It is to be understood that the forms oi the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit oi the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. A device oi' the character described comprising an elongated normally relatively ilat unitary iiexible cushioning body widened centrally of its length and provided in such widened portion with a transverse opening therethrough for the reception of a toe of the foot, one end portion of said body being straight and narrower than said central portion and forming a tab adapted to lie inwardly of said toe, the other end portion being provided with an opening adaptedto surround a corn or bunion, each face of said body being continuous and unbroken throughout its area.

2. A device of the character described comprising an elongated normally relatively iiat unitary exible body having a soft integral covering layer extending throughout the area oi each side, said body being provided centrally oi its length with a transverse opening for the reception of a toe of the foot, one end portion of said body being straight and reduced in width and adapted to lie inwardly of said toe, the other end portion having an opening adapted to surround a corn or bunion,l and padding arranged within the covering of said end portions, the outer edges of said body adjacent said openings generally following the contours thereof.

WILLIAM J. HICKS. 

